Thursday, December 18, 2003
The Dialectic Made Him Do It
What does Richard Perle know about neoconservatism? And when did he know it? Michelle Goldberg reports on the man who wouldn't be caught dead in beautiful downtown Baghdad, even if he were alive.
What does Richard Perle know about neoconservatism? And when did he know it? Michelle Goldberg reports on the man who wouldn't be caught dead in beautiful downtown Baghdad, even if he were alive.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Swinging Dixie
When J. Strom Thurmond ran for president in 1948, he identified himself as a Dixiecrat. Now we know he wasn't just singing Dixie--he was a swinging Dixie.
When J. Strom Thurmond ran for president in 1948, he identified himself as a Dixiecrat. Now we know he wasn't just singing Dixie--he was a swinging Dixie.
Roger Ailes vs. A-Rod: the Tale of Two Losers
Roger Ailes, Republican fat man, has just signed a new three-year contract with the Fox News Channel for more than $8.6 million a year. This is chump change, of course, when compared to the salary of another loser, Alex Rodriguez, whose contract with the Texas Rangers amounts to more than $20 million a year.
Roger Ailes, Republican fat man, has just signed a new three-year contract with the Fox News Channel for more than $8.6 million a year. This is chump change, of course, when compared to the salary of another loser, Alex Rodriguez, whose contract with the Texas Rangers amounts to more than $20 million a year.
Sunday, December 14, 2003
There's Always More Room on the Virtual Right
No matter how far George W. Bush moves to the virtual right, there will always be room for Alan Stang to position himself even further in that imaginary direction. Stang, an epigone of Robert Welch (founder of the John Birch Society), believes Woody is a communist whose dictatorship is headquartered in the District of Conspiracy.
No matter how far George W. Bush moves to the virtual right, there will always be room for Alan Stang to position himself even further in that imaginary direction. Stang, an epigone of Robert Welch (founder of the John Birch Society), believes Woody is a communist whose dictatorship is headquartered in the District of Conspiracy.
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Saint Bob
Michael Ledeen, in his attempt to beatify and canonize Bob Bartley in one swell foop, says that he is "irreplaceable." Let's hope so.
Michael Ledeen, in his attempt to beatify and canonize Bob Bartley in one swell foop, says that he is "irreplaceable." Let's hope so.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Kristol Clear
Between David Brooks and National Review, there's William Kristol. His take on the electability of Howard Dean is sensible and betrays the real anxiety felt by Dubya's more reflective supporters as the 2004 presidential campaign shifts from low gear into high gear.
Between David Brooks and National Review, there's William Kristol. His take on the electability of Howard Dean is sensible and betrays the real anxiety felt by Dubya's more reflective supporters as the 2004 presidential campaign shifts from low gear into high gear.
Swilling Them with Bumbo
While David Brooks is doing his best to derail the Howard Dean machine, National Review's latest cover story is entitled, "Please Nominate This Man." Obviously, the Bush campaign hasn't yet settled on a unified script to deal with Howard Dean.
Back when Thomas Jefferson was a candidate for the Virginia House of Burgesses, the analogue of the tactic now being used against Dean was called "swilling the planters with bumbo."
While David Brooks is doing his best to derail the Howard Dean machine, National Review's latest cover story is entitled, "Please Nominate This Man." Obviously, the Bush campaign hasn't yet settled on a unified script to deal with Howard Dean.
Back when Thomas Jefferson was a candidate for the Virginia House of Burgesses, the analogue of the tactic now being used against Dean was called "swilling the planters with bumbo."
Monday, December 08, 2003
War Is Heaven
The New York Times reviewer of Tom Cruise's latest flick, The Last Samurai, praises it, in part, for "the majestic brutality of the battle sequences."
Can't you just imagine William Tecumseh Sherman sitting in a movie theater today, oohing and aahing about the "majestic brutality" of these battle sequences?
No doubt the New York Times reviewer is of the opinion that, contra Sherman, war is heaven.
The New York Times reviewer of Tom Cruise's latest flick, The Last Samurai, praises it, in part, for "the majestic brutality of the battle sequences."
Can't you just imagine William Tecumseh Sherman sitting in a movie theater today, oohing and aahing about the "majestic brutality" of these battle sequences?
No doubt the New York Times reviewer is of the opinion that, contra Sherman, war is heaven.
Saturday, December 06, 2003
Well, Isn't That Spatial!
Left, right, leftish, rightish, lefty, righty, leftist, rightist, leftism, rightism, left-wing, right-wing, left-winger, right-winger, left-wingism, right-wingism, far-left, far-right, wingnut (left or right): you hear/read these terms all the time in political discourse. But what do they mean?
Mostly nothing. They are nothing more than spatial metaphors, a residue from more than two hundred years ago. Back then, during the days of the French Revolution, the Royalists in the French National Assembly sat on the right side of the aisle, the Jacobins sat on the left. The Royalists were pro-king, the Jacobins were anti-king.
And the right-left spatial metaphor has spawned the most vacuous of them all: the middle.
Friday, December 05, 2003
Impropaganda
Did I just dream it or did it really happen that U. S. propaganda was, once upon a time, aimed at THEM and not at US?
Did I just dream it or did it really happen that U. S. propaganda was, once upon a time, aimed at THEM and not at US?
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
The Gay Bullshipper
In Andrew Sullivan's world, George Will, Bernie Goldberg, David Brooks, and David Horowitz are "truly excellent conservative writers." Why? Because they agree, for one reason or other, with him and with the Massachusetts court that decided homosexual marriage is legitimate.
I'm sorry, but Will, Goldberg, Brooks, and Horowitz are not and will never be "truly excellent conservative writers." Why? Because they are neither excellent conservatives nor excellent writers.
In Andrew Sullivan's world, George Will, Bernie Goldberg, David Brooks, and David Horowitz are "truly excellent conservative writers." Why? Because they agree, for one reason or other, with him and with the Massachusetts court that decided homosexual marriage is legitimate.
I'm sorry, but Will, Goldberg, Brooks, and Horowitz are not and will never be "truly excellent conservative writers." Why? Because they are neither excellent conservatives nor excellent writers.
